Brian O'Connor AM. PHOTO: Katharyn Brine
Fuel transport training pioneer honoured with AM
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AUSTRALIA DAY: Brian O’Connor will be sharing a large bottle of bubbly tonight with his wife to celebrate being named a Member (AM) in the general division of the Order of Australia in the national Australia Day Awards today.
Mr O’Connor was recognised for his significant service to the petroleum transport industry through emergency response safety training, and to the community of Yass as a former councillor.
He was named Yass Citizen of the Year in 2009 and was awarded a Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct after helping rescue a man who had accidentally driven into the Yass River in 1956.
At 84 years of age and with 63 years in the industry, he doesn’t look like slowing down anytime soon, despite now being a full-time carer.
Brian O’Connor AM
His work with CROIEG
He co-founded the Canberra and Region Oil Industry Emergency Response Group (CROIEG) with Don Kirk.
“I founded the business because there was a need for it,” he told Scoop last night.
“If a road tanker full of fuel has an incident, it’s a major incident, as we’ve seen on television time after time.
“Through research I’d been doing [overseas]… I found out that they had training programs and through a court case in NSW Australia, it was proven we [Australia] had no training programs.
“So I went down the rabbit burrow and… decided there was a need for a nationally accredited training program to cover this contingency, and that’s what I put in place after years of work.”
He is now secretary of the Mutual Aid company with almost 40 major companies as members. He said 124 people have been trained nationally.
“We finance ourselves and via membership contribution (set rate every year) and our activities are spread QLD, NSW, VIC, SA and ACT.”
After training, members are given credentials allowing them to attend hazardous incidents.
“The new mantra is that everyone has to be trained in every task that they do. In this particular area there was absolutely no training available, so we’ve instated a nationally accredited training program.”
He was always confident the program would be successful.
“I hoped that it would be. But I’ve had 63 years in this game… I know what I’m on about! I was positive it would take off, and it has. It’s now got the national recognition, and so it should have.”
See more of his work on the video here.
Yass Citizen of the Year 2009
He was awarded Yass Citizen of the Year in 2009.
“I’m from a family that’s been involved [in community service], my father was the mayor for I don’t know how many years, he was Chairman of the hospital, he was president of everything that went on around the joint; I come from a family of that background.”
Brave Conduct Award
His Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct was awarded after he and fellow rugby league player Tommy O’Neill, of Balmain, came to the aid of occupants of a car that had plunged into the river.
“In 1956 a car went into the Yass River at Hardwick across the bridge. Three people drowned, one person we managed to save,” he said.
“I was 25 at the time.”
A newspaper clipping of the incident on June 12 1956 explains; “Three young- Air Force trainees were trapped in a car and drowned last night when they plunged from a bridge into Yass River. Two Rugby League footballers dived in to rescue a fourth man… Survivor is Aircraftsman Kevin Baker, 30, Queensland. The car crashed through a fence after failing to take a sharp bend. Sydney footballers Tommy O’Neill, of Balmain, and Brian O’Connor, of Yass, who were travelling in an other car, noticed the broken bridge fence. They looked through the gap and saw Baker standing on the upturned car calling for help. They stripped and dived into the icy swirling water to rescue him. But they could not open the doors of the submerged car to release the airmen.”
Community Commitment
“Why not? Why not!
“It’s been bred into me I suppose. It’s just something I like doing… My drive is my Irish ancestry; never give in.”
He served as a councillor for Yass Valley Council between 2004-2008 and 1995-2003.
He was also recognised with The Old Oillies Fellowship of Australia Award in 2013 ‘for exemplary and meritorious service to the community and wholesale sector of the petroleum industry in Australia’.
His thoughts on Council today
“I’d like to see common sense come back into the equation. Just use a bit of common sense instead of everyone making mad preaches about nothing,” he said.
Had he been faced with the recent proposition of forced amalgamations with other regional councils, he would have weighed up the options carefully.
“I would’ve given it considerable sensible thought, then see what decision the collective came up with.”
He’d prefer more attention on beautifying the town centre.
“The centre of the town is becoming very backward looking. It wants a smarten up; it’s not attractive to visitors, not attractive at all.
“The whole main street area is lagging, it’s not pleasant to look at.
“It wants more action and less talk.”
Brian O’Connor AM still finds time to care for his garden and homestead as well being a full-time carer and his commitments as secretary and founder of Canberra and Regions Oil Industry Emergency Response Group (CROIERG). PHOTO: Katharyn Brine
Learn more about Mr O’Connor here.
Janet Clifford (former Yass resident) honoured with OAM
Meanwhile, another recipient of the OAM who some may remember in Yass is former resident Janet Clifford, who was president of the Yass branch of the Country Women’s Association from 1995-1998, treasurer from 1998-2000 and held executive roles from 1977 through to 2000.
She was awarded for her services to women and to the community through the CWA in Lismore (currently holds a presidential role and has been serving the branch since moving there in 2000).
She has also served in the Coast Country Women’s Association, Lismore Base Hospital Auxilliary, Lismore Returned Services League Auxilliary and Lismore Music Festival Society.
Read our other 2016 Australia Day stories here and here.
